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From: jonw@tekmdp.UUCP (Jonathan White)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: Mormon mobs
Message-ID: <2163@tekmdp.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 26-Aug-83 13:11:12 EDT
Article-I.D.: tekmdp.2163
Posted: Fri Aug 26 13:11:12 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 29-Aug-83 00:02:59 EDT
Lines: 81

Well, once again, it is time to do some more arguing over history.  I hope
someone other than J. D. Jensen and myself find this interesting.  In my
last article, I mentioned that the Mormons might not have always been
genteel in dealing with those who opposed them.  Jensen responded:

   These outlandish claims have no historical support. If the three witnesses
   did have to `flee for their lives,' why is there no statement from any of
   the three supporting this? If Oliver Cowdery was a marked man, why did he
   return after ten years... 

Would you settle for a quote from Oliver Cowdery himself?  The following comes
from a little pamphlet that he published in 1839, entitled "Defense in a 
Rehearsal of My Grounds for Separating Myself from the Latter Day Saints":

"...evidence which is to be credited assures me that he [Joseph Smith] has done
everything that he could to injure my standing, and his influence has been
considerably exerted to destroy my reputation and, I fear, MY LIFE."

"...he [Sidney Rigdon]... influence[d] the Prophet, Seer and Revelator to the
Church of Latter Day Saints, into the formation of a secret band at Far West,
committed to depredations upon Gentiles [non-members] and the ACTUAL
ASSASSINATION of apostates from the church..."

I could offer you plenty more proof for my "outlandish" claims, but why don't
look it up for yourself?  You can start with a book written by a MORMON
historian, Juanita Brooks, that details the early history of the church, as well
as the Mountain Meadow massacre.  (Russ can probably give you the exact title.)

I quoted part of a letter from Cowdery's business partner and confidant,
Judge W. Lang, to show that Cowdery had privately denied his testimony
concerning the authenticity of the Book of Mormon.  Jensen replied:

   It is truly remarkable that Cowdery could maintain a business partner for
   40 years considering that he passed away in 1850 at the age of 43!

Well excuuuse me!  I meant "4 years," not "40." (And, incidently, Cowdery
was 44 years old when he died, rather than 43.) 

   White then goes on to quote the letter in which Lang debunks the claims of
   the Book of Mormon. The only direct reference to Cowdery is as follows:

   >>I often expressed my objection to the frequent repetition of
   >>'And it came to pass' to Mr. Cowdery and said that a true scholar ought
   >>to have avoided that, which only provoked a gentle smile from C."

Oh, come on now.  The statements from Judge Lang were obviously based on what
he had personally learned from Cowdery.  Here are some more excerpts:

"Without going into detail or disclosing a confided word, I say to you that I
do know, as well as can now be known, that C. revised the "Manuscript" 
[Solomon Spaulding's "Manuscript Found"] and Smith and Rigdon approved of it
before it became the 'The Book of Mormon.'  I have no knowledge of what became
of the original.  Never heard C. say as to that."

"...Smith made use of this opposition by Cowdery to destroy his popularity
and influence, and which finally culminated in the mob that demolished
Cowdery's house the night when he fled."

Jensen goes on to deny that Brigham Young had anything to do with the Mountain
Meadows massacre, and further asserts that: 

   Latter-Day Saints hold life as sacred and the shedding of innocent blood 
   as abominable. The claims that the Church resorted to violence and rapine 
   are without substance.

I suspect that Jensen needs to bone up on his Mormon history.  I doubt that 
many Mormon historians deny the existence of the Dannites (a specialized team
of Mormon assassins), or the fact that the Mormons participated in mob 
violence.  The case against Brigham Young is very convincing, and I will 
present it to the net one of these days.  Now for a parting comment from
Jensen:

   It is unfortunate that, as human beings, we see what we want to see and 
   hear what we want to hear.  As we view the actions of others, our vision 
   is colored by our perspective. 

I couldn't have put it better myself.

						Jon White
						Aloha, Ore
						Tektronix